Santa visits with children at Westfield's Amelia Park Children's Museum in Westfield

Manon MirabelliFrom left, Kelsey L., 5, Katie M., 2, and Andrew J. Bouchard, 3 months, of Westfield, visit Friday with Santa Claus in his house behind the Amelia Park Children's Museum in Westfield after he arrived there by fire truck. The Santa meet-and-greet kicks-off month-long Dickens Days events that celebrate the holidays.

WESTFIELD – Santa Claus made a grand entrance Friday morning atop a fire truck that carried him to his house behind Amelia Park Children’s Museum where children lined up to meet him and tell him what they want for gifts this holiday season.

The official kick-off of Westfield’s Dickens Days, which celebrate the holidays with a month of special, Victorian-inspired events, Santa’s arrival was met with foreseeable excitement from the little people who were eager to share their gift-receiving expectations.

Her mother, Staci L. Breck, said she brought Katie to see Santa to have “something to do on a day off from school.”

While Friday’s high temperature of nearly 60 and sunny skies were not reminiscent of blustery winter days, the festive presence of Santa Claus was greeted by enthusiastic visitors, many more of whom will have the opportunity to meet with Santa until the end the day on Dec. 18.

Hosted by Westfield on Weekends, Dickens Days, said organization president Robert A. Plasse, is launched annually by Santa’s arrival in what has become a tradition in the city. The event, he added, which is sponsored by the Westfield Kiwanis Club, is in keeping with Westfield on Weekends’ mission to bring all members of the community together.

“We celebrate Westfield’s richness by bringing together its diverse peoples and cultures, by collaborating with them to produce a wide array of community events throughout the year, and by helping to promote the services and cultural opportunities that exist in Westfield to the wider community,” Plasse said. “Westfield on Weekends celebrates the people of Westfield, the many businesses and nonprofits in our community, the unique history of our city and the natural beauty of our area.”

Visit the Westfield on Weekends website at www.westfieldonweekends.com for a full calendar listing of Dickens Days events that will culminate Jan. 2 with seasonal activities at Amelia Park Ice Arena, including the big-screen broadcast of the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic.

Children can visit Santa at the museum at 29 South Broad St. until Dec. 18. Hours are Fridays, 5 to 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays (except Dec. 3), 1 to 4 p.m. There is no fee, but the cost of a photo with Santa is $5. Museum admission is discounted on the day of the visit.